Samsung CF390 Series LC27F390FHNXGO 27" Black 2017

The Samsung CF390 is a 27-inch curved VA monitor that delivers surprisingly good picture quality for its $175 to $209 price range. The 1800R curve reduces eye strain and adds immersion, and owners consistently praise the vibrant colors and deep blacks. It's held back by a 60Hz refresh rate, a single HDMI port, and no height adjustment, but for office work and casual gaming, it's hard to beat at this price. If you need high refresh rates or multiple inputs, look elsewhere.

Let's talk about what this panel actually does well. The VA panel is the star here. VA panels are known for deep blacks and good contrast, and that's exactly what you get. The 300 nits brightness is decent for indoor use, though the spec sheet also mentions 250 cd/m2 in the description, so there's some inconsistency in the marketing. Either way, it's bright enough for a typical office or home setup, but it's not going to blow you away in a sun-drenched room. The 178-degree viewing angles are standard for VA, and they're fine for a single user sitting directly in front of the screen.

The 4ms response time is okay for a 60Hz panel. You won't notice ghosting in everyday use, and casual gaming feels smooth enough. FreeSync support is a nice bonus if you have an AMD GPU, though at 60Hz it's less critical than on a high-refresh monitor. The real-world takeaway from our data is that this monitor ranks around the 44th percentile for performance, which sounds mediocre, but it's important to remember what this monitor is competing against. It's not trying to be a gaming monitor. It's a budget business display that happens to handle games reasonably well. For spreadsheets, documents, and streaming video, it's more than capable.

Where it falls short is in the areas that don't show up on a spec sheet. The connectivity score is in the 22nd percentile, which is rough. One HDMI port means you're swapping cables if you want to switch between a work laptop and a personal desktop. The compact score is also low at the 28th percentile, which is a bit surprising for a slim monitor, but the curved design and the stand footprint probably contribute to that. And the ergonomic score is just average at the 48th percentile, mostly because you only get tilt adjustment. No height adjustment, no swivel, no pivot. If you're tall or have a specific desk setup, you'll want a monitor arm or a riser.

When you stack the CF390 against its competitors, the picture gets interesting. The MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2 and the Alienware AW2725D are in a completely different league, with QD-OLED panels, higher refresh rates, and price tags that reflect that. Those are for enthusiasts who want the best possible image quality and are willing to pay for it. The CF390 isn't trying to compete with those. It's competing with budget IPS and VA panels from brands like Acer, ViewSonic, and LG's entry-level lines.

The LG UltraGear 27G810A-B is a more direct comparison in terms of size, but it's a gaming-focused display with a higher refresh rate and likely a higher price. If you're a gamer who plays fast-paced shooters, the LG is the better choice. The BenQ MA Series MA270U is aimed at productivity and creative work, with better color accuracy and likely better ergonomics. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACDNG is another gaming option with premium features. The trade-off with the CF390 is clear: you give up refresh rate, connectivity, and ergonomic flexibility, but you get a curved panel at a price that's often half of what those competitors cost. For office work, streaming, and casual gaming, that's a trade-off many people are happy to make.

Here's where the CF390 really shines. The price spread across US retailers is $175 to $209, which is remarkably consistent for a monitor this size. At that price point, you're getting a 27-inch curved VA panel with solid picture quality and a design that doesn't feel cheap. Compare that to flat 27-inch IPS monitors in the same range, and the curve alone makes this feel like a more premium product. The value proposition is simple: you're paying budget prices for a display that looks and feels more expensive than it is.

The value story gets even better when you consider what owners actually say. The recurring theme in reviews is that this monitor delivers a clear, vibrant picture that enhances gaming and streaming, and people consistently mention it's a good value for the price. That's the kind of word-of-mouth that matters more than any spec sheet. The best deal in our database is at the lower end of that $175 to $209 range, so if you're patient, you can snag one for under $180. At that price, it's hard to find a curved 27-inch monitor from a major brand that competes.

The Samsung CF390 Series LC27F390FHNXGO is one of those monitors that quietly became a staple on desks everywhere. It's a 27-inch curved VA panel with a 1080p resolution, and it's aimed squarely at people who want a big, immersive screen without spending a fortune. The 1800R curve is the headline feature here, and it's more than a gimmick. It wraps the screen slightly around your field of view, which Samsung claims reduces eye strain during long work sessions. We've seen this panel in our database for years, and it keeps showing up because it hits a sweet spot for office work and casual gaming.

Who is this for? Honestly, it's for the person who wants a monitor that feels bigger than it is. The curve makes a 27-inch screen feel more enveloping than a flat panel of the same size. It's also a solid pick for multi-monitor setups since the VESA mount and slim bezels make it easy to line up two or three of these side by side. But if you're a competitive gamer chasing high refresh rates, this isn't your monitor. 60Hz is fine for everyday use, but it's not going to impress anyone who's used to 144Hz or higher.

The interesting thing about this monitor is the mismatch between its specs and its reputation. On paper, it's a middle-of-the-pack display. Our database puts it at the 46th percentile for display quality and 44th for color. But owners absolutely love it. The user sentiment score sits at 82 out of 100, and the customer rating is 4.5 stars across 46 reviews. People keep buying this thing because it delivers a clear, vibrant picture and a comfortable viewing experience at a price that's hard to argue with. That's the story here: a budget monitor that punches above its weight in real-world use.

One thing to keep in mind: this is an older model. The CF390 has been around for a while, and it shows in the connectivity department. You get one HDMI port and a headphone jack, and that's it. No DisplayPort, no USB hub, no USB-C. For a modern workstation, that's a bit limiting. But if you're plugging in a laptop or a desktop with HDMI, it gets the job done.

If you're a competitive gamer or anyone who's used to a high-refresh display, skip this monitor. The 60Hz refresh rate will feel sluggish, and the 4ms response time isn't ideal for fast-paced games. You'd be better off with something like the LG UltraGear 27G810A-B or the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACDNG, both of which offer higher refresh rates and better gaming performance. The price difference is real, but if gaming is your primary use case, it's worth paying for.

Also skip this if you need to connect multiple devices. The single HDMI port is a real limitation, and the lack of DisplayPort or USB-C means you'll be swapping cables constantly. If you run a laptop and a desktop, or if you want to connect a console alongside your PC, look for a monitor with at least two inputs. And if you're sensitive to ergonomics, the lack of height adjustment is a problem. You can fix it with a monitor arm, but that's an extra expense and, given the build quality concerns, a bit of a risk. For a more ergonomic out-of-the-box experience, consider the BenQ MA Series MA270U.

If you're setting up a home office or a workstation where you spend hours reading documents, writing emails, and occasionally streaming video, the CF390 is an easy recommendation. The curve genuinely helps with eye comfort, the picture quality is better than you'd expect at this price, and the VESA mount support means you can fix the ergonomic limitations with a cheap monitor arm. Just be careful when mounting it. One owner reported a cracked frame during arm mounting, so take your time and follow the instructions carefully. Actually, there are no instructions for base removal, so you might need to look up a video online.

For gamers, the story is more nuanced. If you play single-player games, strategy games, or anything that doesn't require lightning-fast reflexes, the CF390 is perfectly fine. The FreeSync support helps, and the curved screen adds immersion. But if you play competitive shooters or anything where 144Hz or higher matters, skip this and look at the LG UltraGear or ASUS ROG options. The 60Hz refresh rate and 4ms response time are fine for casual play, but they'll hold you back in fast-paced games. And if you need to connect multiple devices, the single HDMI port is going to frustrate you. This is a monitor that does one thing well: provide a comfortable, immersive viewing experience at a budget price. If that's what you need, it's a great buy.